Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City
The Skirvin Hotel, at the corner of 1st Street and Broadway, is the city's oldest hotel. First opened in 1911, the Skirvin Hotel contained 224 rooms in a ten-story two-winged tower. A third 12-story wing was added in 1925, and then in 1929鈥�30 all three wings were leveled off to 14 floors with a total of 525 rooms. The hotel is named for its founder, William Balser "Bill" Skirvin.
The hotel closed down in 1988 and sat abandoned for the next 19 years. It reopened 26 February 2007 after a renovation project restored the original exterior finish, installed historically accurate windows, reconfigured guest rooms and added new guest elevators.
Skirvin Hotel is one of the best known haunted places in Oklahoma City. Rumors of a haunting in the hotel persist, and have even been cited by NBA teams, notably in 2010 when the New York Knicks famously blamed their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the haunting and when the Chicago Bulls reported doors slamming shut on their own and strange sounds outside their rooms.
As the story goes, the hotel's original owner, W. B. Skirvin, had an affair with a maid named "Effie", which led to a pregnancy. To protect his reputation and avoid a scandal, Skirvin locked the maid on the 10th floor. The maid became depressed and even after the birth of her child, she was still not let out of her room. She eventually jumped out a window killing herself and the baby, without notice in newspapers.
In some versions of the legend, this maid is described as "a woman of loose morals", and men who have stayed in the hotel have reported being propositioned by a female voice while alone in their rooms. Others claim to have seen the figure of a naked woman with them while taking a shower.
Skirvin Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The hotel closed down in 1988 and sat abandoned for the next 19 years. It reopened 26 February 2007 after a renovation project restored the original exterior finish, installed historically accurate windows, reconfigured guest rooms and added new guest elevators.
Skirvin Hotel is one of the best known haunted places in Oklahoma City. Rumors of a haunting in the hotel persist, and have even been cited by NBA teams, notably in 2010 when the New York Knicks famously blamed their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the haunting and when the Chicago Bulls reported doors slamming shut on their own and strange sounds outside their rooms.
As the story goes, the hotel's original owner, W. B. Skirvin, had an affair with a maid named "Effie", which led to a pregnancy. To protect his reputation and avoid a scandal, Skirvin locked the maid on the 10th floor. The maid became depressed and even after the birth of her child, she was still not let out of her room. She eventually jumped out a window killing herself and the baby, without notice in newspapers.
In some versions of the legend, this maid is described as "a woman of loose morals", and men who have stayed in the hotel have reported being propositioned by a female voice while alone in their rooms. Others claim to have seen the figure of a naked woman with them while taking a shower.
Skirvin Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Skirvin Hotel on Map
Sight Name: Skirvin Hotel
Sight Location: Oklahoma City, USA (See walking tours in Oklahoma City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Oklahoma City, USA (See walking tours in Oklahoma City)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Create Your Own Walk in Oklahoma City
Creating your own self-guided walk in Oklahoma City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Oklahoma City Introduction Walking Tour
As the state capital of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City is the largest city in this state. Much of the city's settlement occurred during the Great Land Rush of 1889. Native Americans representing several tribes were among some of the region's earliest settlers. Tribal emblems and imagery make up much of the symbolism common in this city.
Many of the city's most iconic buildings date back... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Many of the city's most iconic buildings date back... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Oklahoma City Historical Buildings
Home to an attractive variety of historic edifices, the capital of Oklahoma State provides interesting sightseeing opportunities for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts alike. Eye-catching religious sights and structures of great architectural and historic importance abound in downtown Oklahoma City in equal measure.
A brief look at some of the notable sites is best started at the Henry... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
A brief look at some of the notable sites is best started at the Henry... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Downtown To Bricktown
Oklahoma City's Downtown and vibrant Bricktown area to its east complement each other, housing some of the most prominent landmarks in the city, including abundant dining and entertainment options that the state capital has to offer.
On this self-guided walk, you will start from the Oklahoma City National Memorial downtown, a poignant reminder of the tragic events of April 19, 1995. The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
On this self-guided walk, you will start from the Oklahoma City National Memorial downtown, a poignant reminder of the tragic events of April 19, 1995. The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles